Batten end fitting

Abstract

A batten end fitting includes a coupling having slots therein for securely receiving slides mounted for movement in a mast track formed longitudinally in a mast and rollers rotatably mounted thereon for movement along the mast in response to movement of the slides. A socket or pivot is formed in the coupling, and a ball is defined on the forward end of a batten holder for rotatable engagement with the socket when the batten holder is flexibly secured to the coupling. The batten holder includes a pair of plates for receiving therebetween a luff end of a mainsail, and a positioner is slidably mounted between the plates for receiving a forward end of a batten sewn into a pocket in the mainsail. The positioner selectively positions the batten relative to the plates and thereby selectively tensions the batten within the batten pocket. The ball on the batten holder being rotatable in the coupling socket allows the batten to rotate relative to the coupling to eliminate torque friction between the slides and the mast. The rollers on the coupling absorb forward thrust of the batten in the direction of the mast to eliminate pressure friction between the slide and the mast.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A batten end fitting for coupling a batten having a longitudinal axis to a slide mounted for movement along a mast having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the batten longitudinal axis comprising coupling means for being secured to the slide;   means for holding the batten; and   tapered socket means on said coupling means and ball means on said holding means for being flexibly mounted to said socket means whereby said holding means can rotate relative to said coupling means around the batten longitudinal axis, the mast longitudinal axis and an axis perpendicular to the batten and mast longitudinal axes.   
     
     
       2. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a body and said socket means includes a tapered recess in said body, and further including wall means in said body extending angularly outwardly from said coupling means in the direction of the batten longitudinal axis for defining said recess. 
     
     
       3. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 2 wherein said holding means includes opposing, cooperatively engaging plate means for receiving the batten between said plate means. 
     
     
       4. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 3 further including positioning means mounted between said plate means for sliding movement relative to said plate means in the direction of the batten longitudinal axis for selectively positioning the batten relative to said plate means. 
     
     
       5. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 4 wherein said ball means includes a rounded projection defined on said plate means. 
     
     
       6. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 5 further including cord means for flexibly mounted said ball means to said socket means to align said ball means with said recess. 
     
     
       7. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 6 further including rim means peripherally disposed around said recess for preventing misalignment of said ball means with said recess. 
     
     
       8. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 7 further including an opening extending longitudinally in said plate means along the batten longitudinal axis and bridge means on said plate means extending transversely across said opening for securing the batten between said plate means. 
     
     
       9. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 8 further including serrations on said positioning means and serrated means on said plate means for cooperatively engaging said serrations to secure said positioning means relative to said plate means. 
     
     
       10. A batten end fitting for coupling a luff end of a batten with a pair of slides mounted for movement in a mast track extending longitudinally along a mast comprising car means securable to the slides for moving along the mast in response to movement of the slides;   bearing means on said car means for positioning the slides to move longitudinally in the mast track;   means for retaining the luff end of the batten;   pivot means on said car means for engagement with said retaining means to permit rotation of said retaining means around a first axis parallel to the mast, a second axis extending longitudinally through the batten and a third axis perpendicular to said first and second axes, said pivot means including a circular socket centrally positioned on said car means; and   aperture means in said car means disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said socket for receiving the slides.   
     
     
       11. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 10 wherein said bearing means includes a plurality of rollers mounted on said car means to move along the mast adjacent the mast track. 
     
     
       12. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 11 wherein said rollers are mounted on ball bearings. 
     
     
       13. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 12 wherein a pair of rollers is positioned adjacent each of the slides. 
     
     
       14. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 13 further including means for securing said car means to the slides, said securing means including a flexible line engagable with said car means and the slides to secure the slides in said aperture means. 
     
     
       15. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 14 further including means on said retaining means for receiving said flexible line to engage said retaining means with said pivot means. 
     
     
       16. A batten end fitting for coupling a luff end of a batten of a full mainsail to a sail slide disposed adjacent at least one additional sail slide attached to the mainsail, the sail slides being mounted for movement in a track in the mast when the sail is lowered comprising means for holding the luff end of the batten;   means disposed between said holding means and the mast for coupling said holding means to one of the sail slides to permit rotation of said holding means relative to the one sail slide; and   channel means in said coupling means for receiving at least a portion of the other sail slide within said channel means when the sail is lowered.   
     
     
       17. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 16 wherein said coupling means includes a body having recess means for rotatably receiving said holding means and said recess means is disposed between said channel means. 
     
     
       18. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 17 wherein said recess means is circular and said channel means is disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said recess means. 
     
     
       19. A batten end fitting as recited in claim 18 wherein said body includes spaced, parallel walls joined to said recess means and said channel means is defined between said walls.